Circle of Excellence Fact Sheet

Purpose

The international Circle of Excellence awards program recognizes outstanding work in communications, marketing, alumni relations, advancement services and fundraising as judged by peer professionals at schools, colleges and universities as well as by professionals from outside education.

Criteria

Winners are selected based on a number of factors, including overall quality, innovation, use of resources and the impact on the institution or its external and internal communities, such as alumni, parents, students and faculty and staff. The Circle of Excellence awards program is open to professionals working at member colleges, universities, independent schools and nonprofits around the world.

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Judging

CASE assembles expert judging panels made up of professionals in the fields of alumni relations, advancement services, communications and marketing and fundraising. These judgings are "hosted" on various member campuses. One or more panels are convened for each of the 41 categories, which cover areas of alumni relations programs, fundraising programs, institutional relations, new media, advancement services, institutional marketing, periodicals and publications and design.

Gold, silver, and bronze awards may be given in each category. Judges have the option of giving no awards, and they may also recognize exceptional entries with a grand gold medal. Judging is completed in the spring with winning institutions being notified in late May. An exhibition of grand gold winners is on display in the awards gallery each July at CASE's Summit for Advancement Leaders. Award winners are also recognized at the CASE-NAIS Independent Schools Conference in January, the CASE Europe Annual Conference in August and at a suitable conference at CASE Asia-Pacific. Winners for the current year are posted on the CASE website in mid-June.

Competition

In 2011, CASE received more than 2,500 entries for consideration in 41 categories by 614 member higher education institutions, independent schools and nonprofits from around the world. Judges gave 253 bronze, silver and gold awards. Fifteen institutions received the top prize of a grand gold award.

Awards on the Web

Award winners from the current year's competition are available online starting in early June. Judges' reports submitted by the judging panels can be viewed starting in late September. And late in the year, CASE also makes available to all members the abstracts submitted by the winners. This information from past competitions can be viewed online by going to www.case.org and typing "circle" into the CASE Code box.

History

Made up of several of CASE's long-time recognition programs, the Circle of Excellence awards program, in its present configuration, was introduced in 1994. Each year, it has grown in prestige and is now one of CASE's most popular and respected awards programs.

About CASE

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is one of the largest international associations of education institutions, serving more than 3,400 universities, colleges, schools and related organizations in 68 countries. CASE is the leading resource for professional development, information and standards in the fields of education fundraising, communications, marketing and alumni relations.

Media kit

For questions or more information contact Pam Russell, director of communications at +1-202-478-5680 or e-mail russell@case.org.